As a result, stroke is "a major drain on health-care funding" (Rothwell 1613). Medical research costs hundreds of millions of dollars to fund and it comes to no surprise that research-funding organizations have been reluctant to support medical conditions with low mortality rates. However, with the rising number of aging boomers (by 2029, the youngest baby boomers will turn 65), the number of stroke patients will rise to extremely high figures, leading to better reasons to fund research in preventing and treating stroke. Today, the baby boomers are the main donators for funding cancer and stroke and as a result, the parents of the boomers have benefited greatly by the constant advancements in research and treatment. This will also benefit the boomers as they continue to age and become more prone to disease since effective treatment (in comparison to 50 years ago) is more readily available. Future generations will benefit since the aftermath of the cancer and stroke treatments for the baby boomer generation will leave medical professionals more experienced in handling the complex problems the illnesses bring.
Among the people who are aged between 75 and 84, 14% of them need help with their daily activities. Among the people aged 85 years and up, 40% require assistance (Russell 173). Although elderly people are more likely to depend on family members for help with their daily errands and activites, many resort to professional nursing services. Some people choose to hire professionally trained nurses to provide the extra medical requirements elderly people need in the luxury of their own homes (assisted living), but others choose nursing homes that provide medical and social care for the elderly (Dyson 33). In the mid-80's, the new idea of assisted living was launched by the demands of the baby boomers who "sought out new types of elder care facilities for their parents" (Raymond 58).